Keep an
eye on the sky
when planning outdoor ceremony
Y
ou have control over the guest list, the reception location and nearly every other detail of your wedding day. But not the weather. It’s innately chaotic, and no matter what anyone tells you, it can’t be predicted months in advance. So how should you plan for the weather, especially if you want to hold a ceremony or reception outside?
Window of opportunity Late April to early June and early September to early October are some of the more popular months for weddings. The wild card is precipitation. Consider a destination wedding at a location that has distinct dry seasons (such as southern California and some tropical islands or the desert. Choose the date and time Don’t let the wedding date slip too far outside the windows of opportunity. If you’re planning an outdoor reception at night, temperatures will be falling, so pick your date using low temperatures as the criteria. If your ideal temperatures range from 70 to 85 F, a summer wedding makes more sense than late spring or early fall. Back-up plan “Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get.” You have to be prepared. Determine how and where you’ll move your event if there’s rain or extreme temperatures. Discuss this back-up plan with caterers, florists, musicians and other key players ahead of time. Consider the comfort and health of your guests — especially the elderly. Check the forecast Reliable forecasts are not available very far in advance. You might get a general idea of what the day will be like a week ahead of time, but a detailed, reliable forecast probably won’t be available until a few days before the event. The most challenging forecasts to plan for are those that include a chance of thunderstorms because they are often widely scattered and develop unpredictably. Find the weather geek attending your wedding and give him or her radar duty. Embrace it! Just because you can’t control the weather doesn’t mean it needs to be a source of stress. Source: Washington Post
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www.wcfcourier.com/weddings
Spring 2012 WEDDINGS